Consult people at the grassroots

June 21 : One way of making sure that environmental concerns are not relegated to the background when planning infrastructure projects for the city is to set up ward committees and allow local people to have a say through them, in how they will be built, suggests Vinay Sreenivasa of Hasiru Usiru, a voluntary group working for the environment.

“It is essential to bring about decentralisation of administration and give local people strong representation in ward committees so that environmental issues get the attention they deserve. It is the people who live around the trees and lakes which are in danger of disappearing, who need to be heard,” he says, observing that Bengalureans are very concerned about the environment, realising what an important role it has to play in their lives.

“The very fact that there is huge oppostion from people every time trees are to be cut for one project or the other, is enough proof how important the environment is to the people. The elderly and children are already suffering with parks and avenues of trees disappearing and depriving them of places of recreation,” Mr Sreenivasa observes, warning that the city could be left with an unhealthy population, deprived of exercise, in the years to come, unless corrective steps are taken.

Also, in his view, planners need to consider not just the motorists who use the flyovers and underpasses, but also the cyclists and pedestrians, of whom there are plenty in the city as well.